ACTING on instructions from Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos, agents of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) are working round-the-clock to get more top targets in the country thru more ‘intelligence-driven’ anti-narcotics operations this year, the Journal Group was told yesterday.

“We are reassessing our campaign and are going more aggressive in neutralizing ‘high-value targets’ nationwide in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and all other PNP units,” said PNP-DEG director, Brigadier Gen. Randy Q. Peralta.

The PNP-DEG scored its 1st major haul under Peralta last Friday evening following a buy-bust operation in Zamboanga City which ended up in a deadly shootout and left a ‘high-value individual’ in Mindanao dead.

In a report to Gen. Carlos, the PNP-DEG director said suspect Puriti Taraji alias ‘Bossing’ managed to shoot an operative of the DEG Special Operations Unit 9 identified as Patrolman Ronevil Batal before he was killed.

The suspect, a resident of Barangay Laum in Maimbung, Sulu had just sold four kilograms of shabu worth P27 million to a poseur in Bgy. Maasin, Zamboanga City around 10 p.m. Friday when he sensed the entrapment operation, drew a concealed firearm and began firing at the undercover officers hitting Pat. Batal.

Brig. Gen. Peralta said other members of the team returned fire killing the suspect on the spot. Pat. Batal was declared in a stable condition at a local hospital where he was visited. He was given a Wounded Personnel Medal and financial assistance by Peralta last Saturday.

Recovered from the possession of the slain suspect were a chamber-loaded caliber 9mm semi-automatic pistol with several live ammunition, four plastic packets containing around four kilos of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ and the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill.

The recovered pieces of evidence were placed under the custody of the Regional Forensic Unit 9.

Brig. Gen. Peralta said the slain suspect had been under their radar this year amid intelligence reports he is a big-time drug transporter in Mindanao.

“We have received information that he is connected with a Malaysian Drug Group operating in Tawi-Tawi, Jolo, Basilan and other parts of Western and Northern Mindanao,” he said.

Gen. Carlos congratulated the PNP-DEG for their latest major anti-narcotics accomplishment in the country amid their ongoing war on drugs and particularly paid tribute to the policeman who was wounded in the gunfight with the slain suspect.

Members of the local Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Intelligence Unit, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Zamboanga City Police Station, Marine Battalion Landing Team and the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao supported the DEG-SOU 9 during the operation.

PNP-DEG operatives last week also hauled to jail eight wanted drug personalities including two ‘HVTs’ following separate anti-drug operations.

The official said suspects Rogie Jamelo alias’ Jun,’ a 46-year old resident of Purok Langis in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City and Marcelino Nicavera alias ‘Junjun,’24, of Purok Tultugan in nearby Bgy. Mandalagan were arrested after they conspired to sell 50 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ worth P340,000 to an undercover officer in Purok Langis 8 p.m. last Tuesday.

Recovered from the possession of the duo were the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill and P180 in different denominations.

Members of the PNP-DEG SOU 6 were assisted by officers from the Bacolod City Police Office and the local Maritime Police Station in the conduct of the entrapment operation.

Now being held at the Bacolod City police jail, both suspects are facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the official said.

The rest of the suspects were arrested on the strength of warrants for violation of RA 9165 issued by different courts in Rizal, Lanao del Sur, Parañaque City, Bacolod City and Davao City.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to account for all persons wanted for violation of RA 9165 in the country,” said Brig. Gen. Peralta in referring to the arrest of the suspects.

The official took over as new PNP-DEG director vice his classmate from PNP Academy Class 1993, Brig. Gen. Remus B. Medina who is now the Quezon City Police District director.

“My marching order for all of you is to stay focused and do what is right. Let’s us look forward not for self-fulfillment but look for the future of our children and our country,” Peralta told officers and men of the PNP-DEG shortly after he was installed by PNP Director for Operations, Major Gen. Val T. de Leon.

The new PNP-DEG director thanked Brig. Gen. Medina for ably steering the unit to greater heights with major accomplishments since May last year which saw the PNP-DEG accounting for nearly 1.9 tons of shabu worth around P13 billion with the help of the PDEA and other PNP territorial units led by the NCRPO under Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr.

“This is a challenging job but I promise I won’t break your heart. Just be honest with me. If there are temptations, if offers are coming as you carry out your job. Just tell me. We should live in trust and confidence,” he said.

Being no stranger to the PNP-DEG where he used to be its Chief of Staff and later Deputy Director for Operations, Brig. Gen. Peralta also said one sure way to avoid falling into the evils of money as they fight drugs is to live a decent and modest life.

“We are humans bound to commit mistakes but we can avoid all temptations by simply living within our means,” he said.

Maj. Gen. de Leon, on behalf of Gen. Carlos extended his congratulation to the newly-installed PNP-DEG director. “I am confident that you are an esteemed officer who is highly confident to lead the PNP Drug Enforcement Group. With the support, hard work, and right attitude of the PNP-DEG family, I expect that you will continue or even surpass the laudable accomplishments of your predecessors,” the official said.

De Leon also commended the men and women of the PNP-DEG for showing their professionalism and unwavering commitment to pursuing the government’s war on drugs.

“Despite the numerous challenges affecting the implementation of our campaign, you stood firm with a stronger commitment to serve and protect our people against crime and violence,” he said while noting the significant contribution of the unit to the PNP’s unprecedented achievements in the crackdown against illegal drug trafficking and abuse under the Duterte administration.